Australia in Sri Lanka - August 2011

[Media Park]

4/237 (Usman is retired OUT so part of the four)
S Marsh did his Test claims no favours, out for 12

[Media Park]

AUSSIES 5-311 (97)
Stumps Day 2

U Khawaja 101 retired out
P Hughes 76
M Clarke 61 not out
P Siddle 13 not out

[NFC]

AUSSIES 5-311 (97)
Stumps Day 2

U Khawaja 101 retired out
P Hughes 76
M Clarke 61 not out
P Siddle 13 not out

Watson
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Hussey
Ponting
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Copeland
Lyon

Done and done, too easy.

[Media Park]

Any combination of our squad will lose inside of three days, so why not?

[NFC]

Any combination of our squad will lose inside of three days, so why not?

Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing Usman open. Opened for Australia in U/19's, has the technique and concentration for it.

How about...

Khawaja
Hughes
Ponting
Watson
Clarke
Hussey

Thoughts?? Or prefer the one above?

[Media Park]

I like the first one, I am just a tad worried by the thought of:

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Beer

[stan]

I like the first one, I am just a tad worried by the thought of:

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Beer

Yes you could be right with that team. I would be tempted to get Copeland in for Siddle to be honest. I believe Copeland is bowling better at the moment than Siddle and really Harris and Siddle are very similar. Where as Copeland is different. Also as far as the spinner goes, im not sure about Lyon but I'm also not sure about Beer. I feel we need one of them but you know, I'm not sure which one really.

Just for Shits and giggles here is the team that I think should take the field:

Watson
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Ponting
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Beer
Copeland

I feel Khawaja has a solid technique and is suited to batting at 3, Ponting down the order will take the pressure of him slightly and allow him to play more freely.
With this side you have your 3 seamers and the spinner with watson as a 4th seamer if required. We simply dop not have decent enough spinners to be playing 2 of them at the moment.

[Media Park]

I agree with everything you say about Khawaja and Ponting, Stan... And most people would agree with you too...

But I don't see Ponting batting anywhere other than three, even if there is a better suited player in the side...

My thoughts on Lyon are, being so inexperienced, he would be better off playing somewhere and getting some overs in, rather than mixing the drinks in a subcontinental backwater... So if he's there, realistically he should be playing...

I wouldn't be shocked if the muppets over there play Shaun Marsh anyway...

[NFC]

Sri Lanka Board XI 2/112

Copeland 5 overs 1/7
Siddle 5 overs 0/25

Say no more...

[Media Park]

Lyon 1/
Beer 0/

Say no more...

[Gozu]

Tour Match

Sri Lanka Board XI 258 (1st Inns)

Chandimal 59
Paranavitana 49

Copeland 5/47
Harris 2/39
Beer 2/42

Australia 393 (1st Inns)

Clarke 104 ret
Khawaja 101 ret
Hughes 76

M. Perera 3/137
Kulasekara 2/62

Sri Lanka Board XI 2/174 (2nd Inns)

Thirimanne 100*

Copeland 1/14
Lyon 1/51

Match Drawn

[Media Park]

Copeland taking Siddle's spot, and Khawaja solidifying the case over Shaun Marsh are the big winners here...

The spinners spot is still a toss up IMO.

[stan]

Copeland taking Siddle's spot, and Khawaja solidifying the case over Shaun Marsh are the big winners here...

The spinners spot is still a toss up IMO.

I really doubt Marsh was really in contention for that spot. Khawaja is miles a head of him. But geez you never really know I guess.

After this match you would think Copeland is going to get the nod. If you have alot at the sucessful teams like England at the moment you would notice that there pace bowling attack has a fair bit of variety. You Anderson, Broad then either Tremlett or Bresnan - bit of difference there. So really playing Harris and Siddle is much of a much ness really. Hence Copeland the tall lanky bloke adds a bit more to the attack.

As for the spinner, well I reckon Beer will get the nob for the first test.

[NFC]

Copeland taking Siddle's spot, and Khawaja solidifying the case over Shaun Marsh are the big winners here...

The spinners spot is still a toss up IMO.

I really doubt Marsh was really in contention for that spot. Khawaja is miles a head of him. But geez you never really know I guess.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-australia-2011/content/current/story/530105.html

Khawaja v Marsh poses selection headache

On the strength of a strikingly composed 101 retired in the Colombo tour match, Usman Khawaja has made arguably the more convincing case. Though he opened the batting, Khawaja stayed long enough to see the wicket wear and the spinners wheel away, showing he had developed a more convincing method against spin than the one that saw him defeated by Graeme Swann on debut in the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG in January.

Yet Shaun Marsh's hold on the No. 6 berth has appeared much the stronger in the weeks leading up to the match. He was not taken on the Australia A tour of Zimbabwe, where Khawaja failed to make a score of note in four innings, because he was deemed almost an automatic selection for the tour of Sri Lanka. Marsh has also seen far more of the Sri Lankan Test attack than Khawaja, and has the game to dominate an attack, whereas Khawaja is more likely to accumulate with a game best suited for the top four. Should the merit of one silken innings in a tour match overrule earlier conclusions?

"I don't know, I'm not sure. [Khawaja is] another one who grabbed a hold of his opportunity and that's all you can do," Clarke said. "Obviously he hasn't made too many runs leading into this three-day game in the Australia A set-up, in county cricket and the back-end of NSW.

Surely not...

[Media Park]

If Khawaja does not get a gig, that is ridiculous...

FWIW, there's an article doing the rounds about Michael Beer giving his pearls of wisdom to the new players, Lyon and Copeland...

[Squids]

Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawja
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Copeland
Lyon

Bowling looks shocking, thats how I see them lining up though.

[Lightning McQueen]

Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawja
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Copeland
Lyon

Bowling looks shocking, thats how I see them lining up though.

I think they'll opt for Harris and Beer.

[Squids]

I think the selectors love Siddle, how he remained in the Ashes side shows the selectors love him.

Will give you Beer though, more likely to play than Lyon, which I find unfortunate because atleast Lyon throws it up there trying to be attacking. Nothing worse than a defensive spinner that sucks!

[Lightning McQueen]

I think the selectors love Siddle, how he remained in the Ashes side shows the selectors love him.

Will give you Beer though, more likely to play than Lyon, which I find unfortunate because atleast Lyon throws it up there trying to be attacking. Nothing worse than a defensive spinner that sucks!

I'm not saying I disagree with your team, I just think that's the way the selectors will think.

[Jimmy]

Usman better get the gig before marsh

Watto
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Usman

I think well see the above altho, I would prefer ponting at 5, usman at 3, busway at 6.

Beer and copeland to support Mitch and Harry.